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Quantum wonders enthral science enthusiasts
Experience the wonders of quantum science at the Quantum Century exhibition in Malappuram, attracting thousands of enthusiasts and students.
Political Realignment and the 2026 Japanese Election II | Council on Foreign Relations
This Sunday, Japanese voters will once again go to the polls. Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has called this snap election in the hopes of attracting sufficient votes to put her party, the LDP, back in the majority.
Ken Griffin and Stephen Ross fund $10M campaign to relocate CEOs to Florida's business-friendly environment
Florida business leaders launched the "Ambition Accelerated" campaign, backed by Ken Griffin and Stephen Ross, to attract even more CEOs and investors to South Florida.
Key business publications spotlight new Sportservice leaders
Two recently appointed leaders of Delaware North’s Sportservice business – Tom Barney and Adrian Dishington – were profiled this month in Sports Business Journal (SBJ) and Buffalo Business First, respectively. Together, their stories highlight both the company’s deep bench of homegrown talent and its ability to attract global hospitality expertise to Buffalo. Tom Barney featured in Sports Business Journal In an interview […]
Maryland Companies Celebrate Global Collaborations, Industry Honors and Local Partnerships
The Maryland Marketing Partnership, which helps drive Maryland's branding and marketing efforts to attract businesses, create jobs, and grow the state's economy, today shared a summary of the latest news from companies and organizations that invest in the partnership. "Maryland's marketing partners are starting the year with major investments in our state's workforce and economy," said Harry Coker Jr., Secretary for the Maryland Department of Commerce. "From clean energy to biopharma to higher education to commercial real estate, these investments are helping us build a stronger and more competitive Maryland economy." BGE , Maryland's largest natural gas and electric utility, along with the Exelon Foundation , announced a $250,000 grant for Civic Works' Baltimore Shines solar initiative to support solar installations for 30 homes in Baltimore. According to Civic Works, homeowners will receive free rooftop solar installations, adding clean energy to the grid and generating more than
Stephen Ross and Ken Griffin Think Florida Is the Future for Business
Stephen Ross, the real estate developer, and Ken Griffin, the billionaire financier, are trying to attract businesses to their new base, South Florida.
MENALAC Awards 2026 to celebrate excellence across the MENA leisure, entertainment & attractions industry
DUBAI, U.A.E. — On 1 April 2026, the 8th MENALAC Awards Gala will bring together the region’s leisure, entertainment, and attractions industry for a landmark celebration of excellence. Taking place…
Alibaba to spend $431 million for Lunar New Year AI push as chatbot war heats up
Alibaba said on Monday it will spend 3 billion yuan ($431 million) to attract users to its Qwen AI app during the Lunar New Year holiday, heating up a race between China's largest tech firms.
New project in St. Johnsbury expected to bring more business downtown
The Town of St. Johnsbury is looking to attract more visitors into downtown, and they want to hear your thoughts on a new project in the works.
Newcastle United pushing hard to sign Barcelona youth team gem
According to a recent report from SPORT, a new name from Barcelona’s youth setup has begun attracting serious attention from across Europe. As such, Premier League side Newcastle United are making ...
Why Music Catalogues Are Becoming The Hottest Asset In Entertainment
Music catalogs are emerging as stable, long-term assets, attracting investors with consistent returns and cultural value.
The Joy Rematch: How can sports win over non-fans?
How can sports leagues attract non-fans? Download The Joy Rematch to see how leagues can secure this untapped market.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon retiring as retailer gains more wealthy shoppers amid inflation
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon retires after 40 years, leaving behind a transformed retail giant that attracts higher-income shoppers through convenience.
The surprising science behind how certain foods can make you smell more attractive
Beneath fancy perfumes and deodorants, our food choices may be quietly shaping our natural scent in unexpected ways
Elizabeth Lopez to Drive Outbound Business Attraction for Southern Nevada at LVGEA
The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) is pleased to announce that Elizabeth (Liz) Lopez, MBA, CEcD, will join the organization as Vice President of Business Development & Outbound Strategy, effective Feb 9, 2026. In this role, Lopez will lead LVGEA's regional business attraction and expansion initiatives, strengthen community and industry partnerships, and advance strategies that drive Southern Nevada's economic competitiveness and long-term growth.
A New Way to Flirt: Dazzle Potential Mates With Patterns Invisible to Humans
Cuttlefish attract prospective sexual partners by creating a pattern on their skin, based on the orientation of light waves.
A New Way to Flirt: Dazzle Potential Mates With Patterns Invisible to Humans
Cuttlefish attract prospective sexual partners by creating a pattern on their skin, based on the orientation of light waves.
Is Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO) Attractive After Recent Share Price Swings?
If you are wondering whether Melco Resorts & Entertainment is a bargain or a value trap at around US$6.35, you are not alone. The answer starts with looking closely at what you are really paying for its business today. The stock has had a mixed run, with a 3.6% gain over the last 7 days, a 20.7% decline over the last 30 days, a 15.4% decline year to date, but a 13.4% gain over the last year, set against much larger declines of 53.1% and 60.3% over the last 3 and 5 years. Recent coverage of...
Is Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) Pricing Fair After Strong Multi‑Year Share Gains?
If you are wondering whether Live Nation Entertainment is priced attractively today, it helps to step back from the headlines and look closely at what the numbers are saying about the stock. The shares recently closed at US$146.97, with returns of 1.8% over the past week, 0.8% over the last month, 1.1% year to date, 4.4% over 1 year, 82.9% over 3 years and 121.2% over 5 years. These figures may shape how the market currently views its potential and risks. Recent news coverage around Live...
Pokémon cards: The 'liquid asset' increasingly attracting criminals
Cards related to the popular Japanese animation franchise have soared in value over recent years.
‘I’m picking winners’: UK business secretary takes activist approach to economic growth
AI evangelist Peter Kyle wants to scale up businesses, attract overseas investors and look out for UK’s poorer regions
Gov. Kemp traveling to Europe to recruit businesses to Georgia
Gov. Brian Kemp is traveling to Europe this week as part of an economic development mission aimed at attracting new business investment to Georgia.
TV Talk: Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson pitches city as business refuge
The Republican mayor credits Dallas’ policing and business climate for attracting companies from Democratic-run cities, a link others say oversimplifies...
Delta will introduce ‘basic’ business and first class fares in 2026
Delta plans to introduce 'basic' business and first class fares to make booking seats up-front more attractive to price-sensitive travellers.
A 6,000-seat immersive ‘mini-Sphere’ venue is planned for D.C. region
The company behind the Las Vegas attraction plans to expand to National Harbor, financed with $200 million in public and private tax incentives and other subsidies.
Is Lucky Strike Entertainment (LUCK) Pricing Look Stretched After Recent Share Price Rebound?
If you are wondering whether Lucky Strike Entertainment is attractively priced or just a value trap, starting with a clear look at what the current share price implies can help frame your view. The stock most recently closed at US$9.19, with returns of 4.2% over the last 7 days, 2.1% over the last 30 days, 8.2% year to date, and a 5.5% decline over the last year, alongside a 33.4% decline over the last 3 years. Recent coverage has focused on how investors are reassessing entertainment and...
Joy Awards Spotlights Saudi’s USD 3B Entertainment Market
Events like the Joy Awards drive the entertainment sector, attracting tourism, revenue, and premium experiences.
Two years as Louisiana governor: Jeff Landry’s big conservative wins, flashes of controversy
Landry says his aggressive approach is bringing much-needed change to Louisiana. But it has often attracted criticism.
You Can't Invite Hotel Visitors to Move to Your Island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and We're All Bummed About It
Animal Crossing: New Horizon's big 3.0 update is now live, and with it a bustling hotel where you can decorate rooms and attract villagers from the game's massive roster of over 400 animals for a visit. But sadly, these new friends won't stay forever.
Alexandra Navrotsky: ‘I don’t think you attract people to science ...
The nanogeoscientist on the importance of people to good science, the recent turnaround on diversity, equity and inclusion and why she will never be a professional artist
What Makes Men Attractive? Science Reveals the Ideal Body
Do muscles make the man? New research reveals that body fat and BMI play a bigger role in male attractiveness than most people think.
Ford gives some mechanics free Carhartt gear to attract talent
Ford, seeking to fill 5,000 open positions at its dealerships, is teaming with Carhartt in an effort to boost the auto technician pipeline.
Endocrinology — Uniting the Legacy and Future of Basic Endocrine Science
Read the inaugural editorial from Endocrinology’s new Editor-in-Chief, Manuel Tena-Sempere, MD, PhD, outlining the vision for the journal to continue its high-quality standards spanning foundational, translational, and preclinical research investigating endocrine and metabolic function in health and disease while becoming more influential and attractive for a wider array of scientists worldwide.
2026 Best of Business
WBJ’s Best of Business awards are centered around one concept: referrals. Businesses will attract and retain new customers in all sorts of ways, but most will tell you the best way is to get your existing clients to do it for you. A recommendation from a trusted source goes a long way whenever a company leader is looking for a lawyer, an accountant, a place for lunch, a venue for a large event, or a fun place to take employees as a reward for all their hard work. Now in its 13th year, WBJ’s Best of Business awards are essentially recommendations from trusted sources for the organizations to best help your companies succeed. As we do every year, WBJ compiled this list of winners by asking our readers to vote in the various categories. From Nov. 1-28, more than 2,160 votes were cast. The top votegetters are the winners of this year’s 54 categories. To celebrate these winners and to meet the best of the best, I invite you to attend WBJ’s Best of Business awards event at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 28 at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester. Part celebration and part hyperactive networking event, the Best of Business awards is a unique experience in the local economic scene. Always a good time, the room is full of potential contacts, who can all help your business achieve that next level of excellence. You can register here. – Brad Kane, editor
China offers full-time job to top European immunologist Andrew Macpherson
Distinguished professor leaves Switzerland to take up role in China, attracted by its reputation for cutting-edge biomedical research.
What makes Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) attractive
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE:LYV) is one of the best communication services stocks according to Hedge Funds. Kutgun Maral from Evercore ISI reaffirmed his outperform rating on Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE:LYV). The analyst gave a Buy call on December 23 and also raised his target price from $168 to $188. His revised estimates imply nearly 31% […]
IB Parks & Entertainment to operate Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park beginning with the 2026 Season
ROSSVILLE, Ga. — IB Parks & Entertainment, a leading operator of family-oriented theme parks and attractions, announced today that it has acquired the rights to operate Lake Winnepesaukah Amuse…
TEA and IAAPA announce collaborative partnership to bring themed entertainment and attractions industry professionals together in the Middle East
BURBANK, Calif. — Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), the association for the global community of creators, innovators, and fabricators of themed experiences, and IAAPA, the global association …
Trump’s controversial ballroom could actually solve a decades-long problem— and takes first formal steps for construction
President Donald Trump’s sprawling new East Wing ballroom project has attracted widespread controversy — but promises to solve a problem identified by first families and their social secretaries on both sides of the aisle for decades.
African states, business groups eyeing stake in De Beers, CEO says
De Beers has attracted interest from several business groups and African governments as parent Anglo American looks to offload its stake in the firm, the diamond giant's CEO told Reuters.
NYC business exodus begins: Florida and Texas are ready to capitalize
FOX Business' Madison Alworth reports cities in Florida and Texas are ready to attract businesses and individuals fleeing New York City's increasing regulations, rent freezes, and expanded city-run services.
IPOs: Serious Business With Some Showbiz
Many stock exchanges pull out the showbiz stops to attract IPOs to their venues, employing lasers, gongs, dancers, confetti and more. It's a good time, but it’s also serious business, as exchanges compete for a dwindling number of listings in recent years. Bloomberg Television Anchor Tom Mackenzie takes a look at some of the entertaining ways initial public offerings are celebrated. (Source: Bloomberg)
Exploring Area15’s new interactive entertainment offerings
Area15 introduced us to fall’s attraction of the season, Universal Horror Unleashed, but even more experiences have rolled out since then.
Google ex-CEO Eric Schmidt jumps into the AI data center business with a failed, 150-year-old Texas railroad turned oil giant
Bolt and Texas Pacific Land aim to attract hyperscalers with bespoke land, power, and water services for data center campuses.
Health officials warn of potential measles exposure at popular KY attraction
The potential measles exposure happened at the Ark Encounter in Williamstown and a nearby hotel. Here's what we know.
Greenville deemed ‘housing hotspot’ by FOX Business
The Greenville Area Development Corporation found that the Greenville area attracted potential homeowners and businesses with the increase in major manufacturing, technology and aerospace employers over the years.
Ivory Coast Leader Cements Hold on Power in Parliamentary Vote
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara’s party secured an outright majority in Dec. 27 parliamentary elections, giving him more leeway to implement a policy agenda that prioritizes growing the economy and attracting investment.
5 Video Games From The 1990s That Aged Flawlessly
Even though they're decades old, these five games have managed to stay timeless and attract players to this day thanks to their great execution.
These 10 states attracted more movers than they lost in 2025 — and one unexpected state came out on top
The Midwest hasn't yet overthrown the Sun Belt as the next best region to move to. The 10 states that attracted more movers than they lost were largely in the Sun Belt.
Grand Rapids malls invest in new attractions to overcome ongoing traffic challenges
Woodland Mall in Kentwood and Rivertown Crossings in Grandville have each continued to invest in new tenants and upgrades.
Texas comptroller GOP primary attracts big money from donors with business before the agency
One candidate received about $1 million within an eight-day span from the head of a Dallas tax firm — and 72 of his employees — that helps corporations secure tax breaks under comptroller-run programs.
Hong Kong firms hoping new southbound travel scheme will drive more business
Social media users are selling driving courses to Guangdong car owners while local companies are offering perks to attract business.
This is what the ‘most attractive woman alive’ looks like, according to science | - The Times of India
Trending News: Discover the statistical profile of the 'most attractive woman alive' based on analysis of Maxim's Hot 100 lists from 2016 to 2025, identifying key traits and trends in modern beauty standards.
Intercard powers Cinergy’s ninth luxury Cinema Entertainment Center
ST. LOUIS —Intercard, the leader in cashless technology for the attractions and amusement industries, recently completed an installation at the newest Cinergy Entertainment Center in Midland, Texas…
Disney Inches Closer to 3D-Printed Attractions With a Jungle Cruise Polymer Prop Canoe
3D-printed boats? Anything is possible when Disney's Imagineers combine forces with new tech companies.
Choose New Jersey Celebrates Historic Gains in International Business Attraction During the Murphy Administration
Expanded global presence, international missions, and more than 80 MOUs strengthened economic, academic, and cultural partnerships, elevating New Jersey’s reputation as a destination for business growth. Newark, New Jersey — Choose New Jersey, the state’s leading nonprofit business attraction organization, is celebrating New Jersey’s enhanced reputation as a global destination for business growth. Since Governor Murphy[...]
How climate goals create business value
Atlassian, Cox, Workday and 6 other companies reflect on how sustainability strategy drives new revenue, attracts talent and closes deals.
'It speaks to the human condition itself': Why people are flocking to experience the Titanic disaster
Immersive shows recreating the ocean liner's fateful voyage are attracting audiences. But are they valuable historical experiences, or cynically turning tragedy into entertainment?
Apple Aims to Boost Popularity of iPhone Air 2 in Two Ways
We have been covering iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 17e, and iPhone Fold details from The Information's report about future iPhone models, and next up is the iPhone Air 2. The report says that Apple aims to make the iPhone Air 2 more attractive in two ways. First, Apple is apparently considering adding a second rear camera to the device, which would resolve a key limitation.
Florida Poly tops state in computer science, with data science program in top 20 nationally
'Being among the nation’s best and most affordable programs strengthens our ability to attract ambitious students who want to innovate and lead.'
Report: Lakers' future first-round picks have become less valuable
The Lakers don't have that many attractive trade assets they could use to upgrade their roster in the coming months.
Southwest Airlines eyes airport lounges business
For Southwest, having lounges would attract business and frequent flyer customers, who have grown accustomed to the perk at other carriers
Recent Trends in Commercial Health Insurance Market Concentration
Commercial health insurance markets remain highly concentrated across coverage types. However, the individual market, which consists mostly of the ACA Marketplaces, has attracted more insurers and witnessed greater insurer competition across a variety of measures since the implementation of the enhanced premium tax credits in 2021, according to a new Healthy System Tracker analysis.
RWS Global entertains over 7.5 million guests at worldwide attractions this winter
The company has created more than 150 custom holiday experiences, including concept, decor, show production, casting and operations
These plants can heat themselves up—scientists finally know why
Since the time of the dinosaurs, cycad plants may have attracted insects using infrared light. It may be the world's oldest form of pollination.
Aryna Sabalenka v Nick Kyrgios: Battle of the Sexes event 'not damaging' to women's sport
Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios defend their controversial Battles of the Sexes-style match, saying the "fun" event will attract new fans to tennis.
Study outlines a strategy to revitalize downtown Baton Rouge retail
A new study outlines strategies to strengthen downtown's retail health by attracting more customers, easing operations, and creating a plan for long-term growth. Mukul Verma of Throughline Co… Already an INSIDER? Sign in. We are glad you enjoy reading Business Report. Continue reading this story and get ACCESS to all our content from any device […]
6 Ways to Turn Your Small Town Business Into a Local Success Story
Discover practical strategies to build brand awareness, attract loyal customers and stand out in a close-knit community.
Drew Brees announces new multi-level go-kart track opening at Surge Entertainment in New Orleans
Drew Brees said the attraction is expected to open by Christmas and will offer fun for all ages.
Some Mormons take issue with BYU's sports funding
NPR's Scott Detrow talks with Kevin Reynolds, who has reported on Brigham Young University's efforts to attract star athletes and coaches, which some say are in conflict with religious principles.
Paranovus Entertainment Technology Ltd. (NASDAQ:PAVS) Looks Inexpensive After Falling 94% But Perhaps Not Attractive Enough
The Paranovus Entertainment Technology Ltd. ( NASDAQ:PAVS ) share price has fared very poorly over the last month...
Yuletide settles upon the shire at Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire grounds [photos]
Yuletide has once again settled upon the shire at the grounds of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. The Rapho Township attraction’s annual presentation of olden-time holiday entertainment includes characters such as
City of Hope, Hoag and UCI Health chose to build in Irvine, what makes the area attractive for health-care investment?
The billions of dollars in investments coming online more than double the number of hospital beds in the city, add thousands of jobs and makes Irvine a “biomedical, biotechnical” center…
Faculty cite political climate driving student migration to SEC schools from northeast
SEC schools attracted students seeking stability as Northeastern colleges face enrollment declines and campus protests, with Auburn University avoiding Gaza-related disruptions.
Weekend Entertainment | ‘Brier Hill’ Film Hits the Mark
It has been a long time since a locally made movie attracted audiences as powerfully as “Brier Hill,” directed by Jimmy Taaffe of Struthers.
Aerosmith permanently removed from Disney World's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster preshow
Disney World has permanently removed the Steven Tyler-starring Aerosmith preshow video from Rock 'n' Roller Coaster (also featuring Ken Marino) as the ride transforms into a Muppets attraction.
Democrats and Republicans are pouring money into a special election in Tennessee. Here's why
Tuesday's special election for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District between Democrat Aftyn Behn and Republican Matt Van Epps has attracted outsize attention and spending from both parties.
Behind the scenes of Prenuvo, the health startup providing full-body MRI scans
Prenuvo, a preventive health startup offering full-body MRI scans, has attracted online attention from influencers. NBC News’ Gadi Schwartz tested the scan, interviewed the CEO about the future of healthcare, and spoke with specialists about the treatment's advantages and disadvantages.
Science must move from materialism to mystery
Theoretical physicist and neuroscientist Àlex Gómez-Marín argues that modern science has become trapped in a framework that mistakes matter for the whole of reality. In this wide-ranging interview, Gómez-Marín challenges the foundations of materialism, defends the scientific study of near-death experiences, and calls for a new type of science grounded in mystery and a renewed sense of the sacred. He suggests that abandoning materialism could open the door to a deeper understanding of consciousness, death, and the purpose of human existence. Simon Custer: You are both a theoretical physicist and a neuroscientist, and you have also been fiercely critical of materialist theories of mind and consciousness. What do you think the ultimate nature of reality is?Àlex Gómez-Marín: I don't know what the ultimate nature of reality is, but what I try to first assess is whether the stories that they [mainstream science] have told us about it are right, or maybe whether there are other alternatives. That's why I've been a fierce critic of materialism. As a scientist, I realized that they had sold us this idea that to be a good scientist you also had to subscribe to many other -isms, like materialism, reductionism, and even secularism. And so first I think one needs to unmount these -isms, and then, as is happening today in consciousness studies, we have a huge landscape where there isn't only one game in town, the idea that matter is the only thing that really exists. But because we are studying the hard problem of consciousness, it may be the case that other views of reality, like idealism, or even dualism, or other theories like dual aspect monism... these are philosophical ideas that now, I think, have room in science to be taken seriously. How does something like materialism relate to dualism or idealism? What is materialism in the first place?Well, materialism is the philosophical position that matter is the only really ‘real’ thing in the universe. And I think that worked kind of well because science started 400 years ago and Galileo made that split, I call it the foundational wound. It was a great business move.He said, let's start doing science on that portion of reality that lends itself more easily to mathematization and measurement. So, for some reason, the solidity of this table or the movement of planets lend themselves very well to this foundational idea of science. But as time went on, 400 years later, we realized that we had forgotten the other side, which is what really matters.What really matters is pain, is love, is feelings, sensation, consciousness, which is very hard to define, but very intimate. We all know what it is. It's that thing that disappears when we go into deep sleep and comes back in the morning. SUGGESTED VIEWING On the edges of knowledge With Michael Shermer, Rupert Sheldrake, Güneş Taylor It's what it is like to be, as Nagel said. It's the feeling of being alive. So, materialism is good to study certain things, but then when it ossifies into this ideology and then is dressed like science, now it's preventing us from understanding these key questions that are really that everybody wants to know.Why are we here? Why do we feel reality? Where do we go when we die? And so we need other ways. We need pluralism. I'm only asking for having more options on the table and taking them seriously. Why does materialism fail to explain consciousness? For example, if you were to lobotomize me, I would not be a functional human being. What do you say to someone who might think that materialism adequately explains the mind?Well, here we could speak about different things. We could talk about physics or about neuroscience. I happen to have training with both.For instance, for neuroscientists, 99% of them, I'm not included in that portion, believe that the brain can only be a productive organ. It's an organ that somehow, somewhere, consciousness emerges. It's like a lamp. And then something happens, magic happens, and then consciousness emerges.That's the position you need to be if you're a materialist because if the only really ‘real’ thing is matter, then you need to say, just give us some more time and money and we'll figure out how mind emerges or is produced from matter. There are many philosophically sophisticated ways of criticizing this.Now there's another option, which is the brain as a permissive organ. This was said by William James more than 100 years ago.Now then the brain wouldn't be like this machine, like for instance, a heat engine whose smoke is consciousness, which is what we would have in the first big model, the productive model. But in the permissive model, the brain would be a kind of a filter. And so the brain would still have a very important role in consciousness, but it wouldn't be a productive role.It would be permissive, much like a filter or much like a prism which would receive light. And - I'm speaking metaphorically - it would receive the light of the mind and then it could reflect it and refract it.Now, with these two big options on the table, I think we can make progress into what I call the edges of consciousness, which are all these experiences, weird experiences that many people have, but we don't talk about enough, like near-death experiences, precognitive dreams, synchronicities. These experiences are very important for humans and they have a place in the permissive hypothesis and they are literally impossible in the productive hypothesis. So that's yet one more reason to explore alternatives to materialism. There may be anecdotal evidence for near-death experiences, but is there robust evidence that would be accepted by the majority of scientists who subscribe to the scientific method?Sure. And the plural of anecdotes, someone said, is data.And there's a lot of data. Actually, this year is the 50th anniversary, half a century, since Dr. Raymond Moody realized that we have two ears and one mouth and started listening to what his patients had to say about their experiences while they were clinically dead.The heart had stopped, breathing had stopped in these patients. These patients would come back and tell him these amazing stories that some people may say are hallucinations, but for the patients were hyper-real, like seeing light at the end of the tunnels, seeing deceased family members waiting for them, feeling bliss.___I would say the evidence suggests that the mind can survive the death of activity of the brain.___And so he and others started taking them seriously and writing their accounts down. And then you can do a science based on that material of experience that people have. Now, on the more objective side, more recently people have started to measure what's going on in the brain when people are clinically dead and brought back. This has opened a proper field of study, which is near-death studies.Evidence is a difficult word, because sometimes people think that when you say evidence, this is just the final proof. Evidence is like in a jury. You bring testimony, you bring pieces of data that point in one direction or another.I would say the evidence suggests that the mind can survive the death of activity of the brain. When brains are broken or shut off, there can still be mind going on. And that's revolutionary.That would entail that when we die, it's not game over, which, by the way, is the thesis of materialism. If consciousness survives, materialism dies. It's game over for materialism if something of us continues after we die. Do you think that there is mental continuity after death?Well, I think so, and I believe so, and I could also say I may have experienced it myself, because four years ago I had a near-death experience. I was in the hospital, I lost a lot of blood, and I saw those beings at the end of the tunnel, three beings, and there was yellow light. I was in a well, I was looking upwards, and I hadn't read about NDEs by then, but when I came back from this experience, I decided I would try to integrate this also in my professional life. Not just my personal life, of course, but my professional life as a physicist and as a neuroscientist. So I may have had the experience of glimpses of what an afterlife would be, and I'm not ashamed to say it in this way, and then one can do science of it, and then one can do philosophy of it.One can think about what -isms we were discussing, what views on reality would allow those experiences to be really ‘real,’ as opposed to, well, poor guy, the brain was kind of broken, it must have been a hallucination. Do you have a view about whether individuality or “the ego” persists after death, or whether we sort of merge into some sort of cosmic consciousness instead?I don't know, but my view would be along those lines you're suggesting. I think we could speak about a kind of universal mind, and then the problem is not how we emerge from matter, but how we fragment from a more holistic consciousness into these individual eddies and then when we die, this kind of dissipates.But I'm not sure. For instance, idealism would promote that view, but then what would survive of us after these eddies just vanish and become again the big Consciousness, I'm not sure what that would be. I don't know for sure, but I would tell you I believe something of us survives.And there are other lines of research, not just near-death experience, that can address this really hard question of survival. For instance, there are children who remember previous lives. This was studied by Ian Stevenson at the University of Virginia for more than 50 years.___Research takes place within a selection mechanism that also sometimes reinforces things that are not very scientific.___It's amazing research. He went all over the world, especially in the East, and collected all these case studies, all these stories. In plural, these were data of kids, very young age, who would describe up to 40 items that then he could go and verify.There was no internet. There was really no way the kid could know. Why would the kid say that when I was living in this other body and I was a woman and that's how my house would look like or that's how I would die, right? Again, there is evidence, not proof, but there's evidence not only that something weird and interesting is happening as we cross the threshold, but also when we come back to this life.Scientists should not be afraid of studying this, but they are because there's stigma. There's usually stigma upon the enigma, and this is so unfortunate. And one of the reasons is because of the ideology of materialism, because those things cannot be possible. What is wrong with the politics of science such that they have generated this stigma?So many things. Science is a human activity to begin with.So it falls prey to all our passions and ego and greed. That's one thing. Science is a job for the good and for the bad.You need to get a salary. You need to get grants. Research takes place within a selection mechanism that also sometimes reinforces things that are not very scientific.And then, we didn't have time to unpack this, but science for many years become entangled, as I was suggesting before, to other -isms, materialism, secularism. So anything that smells like the afterlife, people may think has to do with God, and then they freak out.Anything that suggests that there's something about the mind that may not need a physical material substrate to exist, it smells like non-materialism. So, all these -isms are ideologically blocking that kind of research, and then there are all these sociopolitical constraints as to what should be studied and what shouldn't be studied.I call it the backstage of science. Sometimes we scientists or science communicators seem to speak as if the data is the only thing that matters. We say, well, data and theory.But then there's a third leg of this stool, which is all the politics that goes behind the scenes. And we often don't speak about this, and it's quite vicious and petty, and it's very real. Why is materialism so attractive to most scientists?Well, an easy answer is because we've grown up with it.It's what the educational system promotes, and that's what you hear when you go to university. So it's like growing in a culture. It feels like the air in which you breathe.So it's very hard to begin with to detect, well, maybe there's another alternative. Maybe there are other ways of doing science, other environments in which one could do science. That's one reason.And other reasons maybe are more profound, and I'm not qualified to explain them, but I could say, looking at this 400-year history of science, since it started around 1623 with Galileo's book The Assayer, that science went and coupled with all what's going on in the West.And so the fall of religion, you could say, and science presented us this new alternative that then could be coupled very well with other -isms, and this idea of growth, and then science losing its good twin brother, which was philosophy. There's a whole natural history of science starting as philosophy, kind of emancipating or breaking out from philosophy, and then marrying technology, and then marrying other social systems.From that point of view, materialism is a very convenient idea to propose. There were attempts, like the German idealists tried to do a more romantic science. But no, the idea prevailed, like Francis Bacon said: You should pursue nature through all her corners, he said, and make her spill her secrets.Our attitude towards nature in the science that dominates is very much reflecting how we treat nature in our society, in our culture, like a resource to extract secrets by force and then dominate it. How is materialism related to the notions of growth and progress? What's wrong with having a productive citizenry?This is another very interesting and very difficult question to answer.But there's this recent book coming out by Paul Kingsnorth. In it, he explains this idea of the machine and this idea of progress. And this, again, this conflation of more is better, of we need to go forward always, and convincing us that the way to do that is to continually extract more from nature. But because we don't have the religious context anymore, because God is dead, then what do we have? We have what we can do as humans with our own gadgets.It's kind of the story of the Promethean fire. We will just build anything to make ourselves God.A good example today is transhumanism. Transhumanism is this pseudo-religion dressed in technoscientific language whose goal is very religious. They promise immortality, they promise redemption, they promise transformation of the entire natural world, but it's done by human means through technology. Are you suggesting that we can't have ethics without religion?Well, we should have ethics with or without religion. That's another pruning that has happened in science. We say, forget about aesthetics, although some physicists still think that beautiful means probably true, and forget about politics. We pretend there's no backstage of science, and even let's forget about ethics.___Science needs to be in the service of mankind.___Scientists, when they become more like engineers, they're just thinking how to make things work so that they can go to the moon, go to Mars, make machines that think, but they don't think whether that's a good idea.And also consider metaphysics. Many scientists for a long time pretended, and maybe that comes from the stream of positivisms, that really one doesn't need metaphysics at all, except that materialism is always the metaphysics running the system.You see, it's not just ethics. It's the pruning of all of these, you could say, five main legs of philosophy that just makes a kind of unconscious science, a science that doesn't really know what it's doing. It's doing it very well locally, but it just doesn't know what it's doing globally. Do you think science has to have an ultimate vision and purpose behind it for it to be effective or for it to be meaningful and transformative?Yes, a way I would say that is that science needs to be in the service of mankind. And it hasn't been that. And we can see it through, you know, when we discovered the secrets of the atom, and all of a sudden, the Manhattan Project, and then we create nuclear weapons.And now we're trying to crack how machines may think, and now we're creating this mess, right? So science needs to be in service of mankind, not in service of a few ideas that maybe want to make more money or just dominate upon nature. What about planes, trains, automobiles, and modern medicine? Hasn't science served mankind by helping us develop those technologies?Yes and no. I see where you're going, and it's fair.I came here by plane, and it's a blessing. When I almost died, the surgeons did their job, and they saved my life. But these two forced choices between Luddites and Silicon Valley types, I think, of course, it's a false dichotomy.Progress, in a way, it's good, but we often don't speak about the dark side of the moon. We say the great things that progress has brought, and we don't speak about the disasters, the side effects that it has come with, and the same when we promise new technologies. We tend to think that any technology is great, that email is going to save us so much time because we don't need to write letters and send them anymore.Is that true? I spend so many hours a week writing emails. Let's just say there are great things about it and bad things about it. People like Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker, for example, argue that we've made moral progress over time because of the Enlightenment. Do you think that's totally wrong-headed?I think he's emphasizing a side of the moon, and he does that very well, and you can find tons of plots where there's a slope going up and say it's great. But I think he should also tell the not-so-friendly story.But if your ideology is just to resist and continue to explain that the Enlightenment is the best thing ever and reason is the best thing ever… this feels to me like you're worshipping these abstractions.I'm very critical of it and also of these, again, science communicators and scientists that say, Oh, science says, in the name of science, experts say. It's like, come on, let's be careful because we can shoot ourselves in the foot by putting forth to the people an image of science that we know is not really true. Recently there's been a resurgence of spirituality and of people who say that they're spiritual but not religious, especially in the United States. If materialism is going away, what is going to fill that gap? Are we going to return to traditional religion? Do you see that being connected with the rise of the political right?I'm not a fortune teller, so I don't know what's going to happen. But, yeah, we could say we're in this post-materialist age and even post-secular age. One cannot come back to the past, but maybe just to contact with the roots is a good idea.What do I mean by that? I think we need to do a science 2.0, a science that says thank you to Galileo and thank you to materialism, but we need to reinvent even a new kind of scientific method. We need to do so in a culture where we realize humans cannot thrive in a vacuum where there's this idea that the sacred has to be removed.Now, how do we do that without bringing in back all the vices of religion? I don't know. I'm from a Catholic country.Here we are in England, so there are differences and interreligious dialogue has always been a challenge. But I think maybe a way of putting it is: after all these conflicts and branchings I was quickly alluding to, science from philosophy and then also from religion, now there's a time of reconciliation perhaps and maybe debates in the proper sense, like exchange of ideas in service of learning and getting into something higher than both poles. We need science to talk to religious people and it's interesting when people say they're spiritual and not religious.I think this is just a way of saying, no, I don't want to go back, I want to go forward. But at the end of the day, religions have offered us practices and grounding that we now desperately need. Everybody can and should just meditate or pray or do whatever they want, but we're in a crisis and it's time for reconciliation. What do you say to critics that say you are merely projecting our need for meaning onto a fundamentally indifferent universe?Yeah, I know that the typical science communicator says something like this. But we're not projecting. Human beings feed on meaning.It's the other way around. If you're a materialist, because the only thing that there is is matter, all that comes next, free will, consciousness, meaning, this is a kind of illusion that we need to explain.They're just craving for meaning, but there isn't really for them. I would also like to remind my materialist friends that for decades, if not centuries, they've said in the name of science, we know that this and this and this doesn't really exist. I think now they sense they're forced to say, well, actually, we don't know. We've been saying, for instance, that there's nothing after you die, and now probably they need to admit that they don't know the answer.___We need to do a science 2.0, a science that says thank you to Galileo and thank you to materialism, but we need to reinvent even a new kind of scientific method.___So it's a moment to open up possibilities and also to gently but fiercely critique these claims that I think harm society. If you say in the name of science, get on with it, when your father dies, you'll never see him again. Well, what the F do you know about it? You haven't studied the literature, you haven't had any of those experiences, and basically what you're doing is you're just doing marketing on ideology. This needs to stop. Do you think that it's scarier for some people to entertain the thought that there might be life after death, compared to a materialist worldview where you just die, given that there might be consequences for unsavory behaviour?Well, death and dying is scary. It's maybe the ultimate ending. It's a limit on life, and when we're in this conquest mode, we don't like limits.And it also has, there's a shockwave backwards, so I think if you change your notion of what death is or may be, you live differently. It also has consequences, as you're saying, for the future because this is not our only goal here and we come back in whatever form. And again, different religions would say different things. I the East, they are more happy with the idea of reincarnation, and here in the West, there are other preferences. But in any case, it changes how we live, and that's really what matters.It's not about just projecting or imagining what we'll be after, but how we live now and also how we treat those who are dying. So it goes from the individual to the families, to the hospitals.Now in the near-death research I do, this has ramifications at all these levels, all the way to society.But our society is thanatophobic. It has a phobia of death. We don't want to hear about death, and this is another thing we need to put on the table and be willing to talk about it. Do you think that we might get closer to answering ultimate questions like why is there anything at all if we jettison materialism?That’s an excellent question, Simon. Two things: we should stop treating reality, I believe, as a great sudoku, as an enigma, as something that with intelligence, money, and time that we will crack and instead treat reality more like a mystery. And what you do for in front of a mystery is not to be the clever guy in a class and say “I’ll solve you” but more like “I will bow and you will transform me.”I know this sounds a bit like a scientist speaking like a mystic. But I think this reorientation is needed. In the end, we won’t crack the big questions, but they will transform us. If we free ourselves from this prison of materialism, the way we will explore these questions will be freer, more creative, and in service of mankind. Do you think exploring mystery is the reason why we are here?I think we are here because, and this pseudo-theological argument I’m making off the cuff, But the One, the Absolute, if there is such a thing, had everything except limitation. We are that absolute experiencing that contingency. It’s like an act of divine proprioception. It’s a wonderful adventure, it’s just incredible to be alive. Perhaps we have forgotten why we are here and the whole point is to experience the flesh.Let me end by saying this. I criticize materialism harshly. I bang on this dead horse, because I think it’s dead. But matter is a great mystery. So maybe my invitation is as follows: hey materialist friends, come here, let’s work on materialism 2.0! Consciousness is a mystery, but matter is also a mystery. The fact that we can have an intersubjective experience consensus, the fact that we can apply mathematics, that we can measure things... the physical world we take for granted, but it is a great mystery too.Maybe that’s related to your last question: why are we here? Why did spirit decide to incarnate? Being in the flesh may be a great thing if spirit decided to do so.Àlex Gómez-Marín, thank you very much.My pleasure.
Cities put science in the spotlight
When three European cities launch an initiative next year to boost scientific excellence and collaboration, much of the action is likely to take place in public spaces rather than in the laboratory.That is welcome news for Ana Marušić. A medical doctor and professor at the University of Split Medical School in Croatia, Marušić champions close connections between “town and gown” to encourage citizen involvement in research, raise public health awareness and ignite young people’s interest in science. “Responsible research and innovation cannot be done in an ivory tower, answering only the questions that are relevant for scientists,” explains Marušić, who chairs the Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health and leads the Centre for Evidence-based Medicine. “The role of the university is to be a medium for transferring new discoveries in science to society, but also to listen to society about what is important and what is needed.”Three cities united by scienceMarušić’s efforts stand to gain traction through Science Comes to Town (SCTT), a new European project to highlight science’s role in society and strengthen cross-border collaboration in research, innovation and sustainability. With funding from the European Commission, three cities—Split, Brest (in France) and Kiel (in Germany)—plan more than 1,000 public events, workshops and competitions for citizens of all ages, researchers, businesses and policymakers. The year-long project kicks off in Spilt on 20 January with a conference involving partner institutions, community representatives and European policymakers. The three cities may be geographically far apart, but they share much in common. All are located on coasts and are home to top regional research institutions that are part of SCTT. Among the project's partners, the University of Western Brittany in Brest, Kiel University and the University of Split belong to the SEA-EU university alliance, uniting nine European coastal academic institutions to advance research, student exchanges and sustainable development. “These universities have a very strong connection between gown and town,” explains Marušić, who is one of Split’s SCTT ambassadors. “It's very important that these universities are there for the community so that we can learn from each other and grow together.”Tackling Europe’s STEM shortagesSCTT will also reinforce efforts to address Europe’s widening gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Studies show that nearly eight out of ten small- and medium-sized businesses cannot find enough workers with the skills required in advanced computing and artificial intelligence (AI)—hindering initiatives to boost European innovation and competitiveness. In healthcare, the European Commission has estimated a shortfall in medical professionals of 1.2 million, due to fewer young people joining the field and an ageing population that needs more care.Strengthening knowledge and dialogue can also help build trust between scientists and the public at time when disruptive technologies are reshaping research and clinical practice, but are also sparking questions about ethics and accuracy. With experience in the classroom and in clinical epidemiology—a discipline involving monitoring and controlling public health problems—Marušić sees the potential risks of over-reliance on AI and chatbot answers for both research and learning. “AI is a very good tool, but one has to be very critical about it,” she adds. “Delegating brain activities will definitely diminish your neural capacities because you are not developing the circuitry that is important for higher-level cognitive engagement.” She stresses the importance of critical thinking and encourages students to use AI as a researcher’s tool to reinforce rather than supplant human discretion and brainpower.The power of outreachSplit’s experience in bringing scientists and the public together has provided a platform for discussing research ethics and explaining science in simple terms. Local efforts to expand health literacy and awareness have helped reduce cardiovascular disease among women, according to Marušić’s research. The city’s university also hosts events to introduce schoolchildren to science, using hands-on experiments to spark curiosity.Marušić’s own love of science began with an interest in studying molecular biology. “But my parents told me, why don't you study medicine?” she recalls. “I said, OK, why not? And that was the best decision that I made.” Marušić is not a practicing physician, but teaches anatomy and public health. She also co-edits ST-OPEN, an overlay university journal that works on capacity building for research publishing among students and their supervisors. Balancing teaching, research and editorial work, she is a strong advocate for medical studies, urging high school students to consider medicine “because later on it gives you a really wide perspective about human life and about society” as well as many career opportunities.As SCTT prepares to bring science into daily life in 2026, Marušić hopes that it will build permanent bridges between scientists and citizens across Europe. “We can be a showcase for making collaboration with the community stronger to share knowledge, attract young talent and integrate critical and scientific thinking into everyday life,” she explains, adding that "collaborating with businesses to improve cities and communities is also an important aspect of this project."Science|Business, which connects policymakers, academics and industry through its news reporting, analysis and events, is an SCTT partner.